Standing Schoolgirl in Mini-dress (Staand schoolmeisje in mini-jurk)

About this artwork.

Young, budding women are an important theme in the work of Wladimir de Vries. The statue on Nassaulaan is an example of this. On the one hand, the figure, with its narrow waist, small breasts and short dress, has a childlike appearance. Her posture makes her seem somewhat shy. However, the legs and arms are strong and give the figure a mature appearance. Apart from the fact that the artist wanted to depict nascent femininity, there may be a second reason why De Vries proportioned the girl in this way. According to the artist, a sculpture standing outside always loses volume through the space around it.  That is why he often made them a little heavier, thickening certain parts of the body in order to do full justice to their visual quality.
 
In 1972, the sculpture was installed near the primary school on Siriusstraat in the Paddepoel neighbourhood. Since 1991 the girl has been standing on the central reserve of Nassaulaan.

There are several statues by Wladimir de Vries in the city. The most famous are Agriculture and Cattle Breeding (Landbouw en Veeteelt) also known as Blote Bet on the Herebrug; The Foal (Het Veulen) on the Radesingel and The Bison (De Wisent) in the Noorderplantsoen. His works – all figurative in nature – were created in the period from around 1950 to 1980. This was precisely the time when a predominant preference for abstract art began to emerge. But Wladimir de Vries continued to work in his original – traditional – style. De Vries' wilfulness also characterises his sculptures from which pride and well-being are expressed.

Facts & Figures.

• Design
  Wladimir de Vries

• District
  Oranjebuurt (incl. Noorderplantsoen)

• Year of creation
  1972

• Art type
  Freestanding sculpture

• Material
  Limestone (bianco del mare)

• Dimensions
  h 1,35 m